What Can We Learn from Interventions That Change Fat Distribution?

Epidemiological studies have illustrated convincingly that fat distribution is associated with cardiometabolic risk. Fat deposition preferentially in the lower body, commonly seen in premenopausal women, is associated with lower risk, while central obesity in men and postmenopausal women is associated with higher risk. Studies of the physiology and the tissue and cellular characteristics of different adipose tissue depots, visceral and abdominal, gluteal, and femoral subcutaneous, corroborate this idea. In this report, we chose to focus on interventions-surgical, hormonal, lifestyle, and pharmacological-that directly or indirectly affect fat distribution, seeking further evidence for its pathophysiological significance.

Percutaneous Ultrasound-Guided TOPAZ Radiofrequency Coblation: A Novel Coaxial Technique for the Treatment of Recalcitrant Plantar Fasciitis-Our Experience

Various therapeutic options are available for treatment of recalcitrant plantar fasciitis. Studies using TOPAZ coblation (ArthroCare, Sunnyvale, CA) have had good early results. The current coblation technique involves a surgical incision or breach of the highly specialized plantar fat pad, which can be associated with risks. We describe a novel technique of ultrasound-guided percutaneous coblation with a lateral heel approach. Advantages include precise targeting of the plantar fascia by direct dynamic visualization of the coblation tip, a true percutaneous approach with a needle skin puncture (<5 mm), and preservation of the plantar fat pad by using a lateral heel approach.

[Combining eyebrow and inferior palpebral margin incision for the facial rejuvenation in the upper eyelid and midface region]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate a simple, minimally invasive and effective operative method for the facial rejuvenation in the upper eyelid and midface region.

METHODS

Blepharoplasty was combined with suspending orbicularis oculi muscle flap and fixing it on the periosteum underneath the eyebrow through eyebrow incision. Meanwhile, for midface rejuvenation, inferior palpebral margin incision was performed and prezygomatic interspace was separated completely under the orbicularis oculi muscle. The under-eye puffiness and tear trough deformity were corrected through releasing orbital fat, reposition and fastening orbital septum, and transposition of orbicularis oculi muscle flap. And the deep sulci nasolabialis and cheek anetoderma were relieved by dual lifting of malar fat pad and orbicularis oculi muscle flap. Follow-up was taken at the 1 week,3 months,6 months,1 year,2years and 3 years after operation. Each case was evaluated with postoperative effect, reprocessing time and postoperative complications and underwent photography.

RESULTS

From Feb.2010 to Oct.2014,190 patients (9 male,181 female, an average age of 49.03 ± 5.67 years) underwent this operation. Obvious improvement on the upper eyelid and midface region was achieved in all the patients after operation without serious or irreversible complication

CONCLUSIONS

Combining eyebrow and inferior palpebral margin incision, through suspending the malar fat pad and orbicularis oculi muscle flap at the same time, as a simple, minimally invasive and reliable method, can strengthen the effect of the facial rejuvenation in the upper eyelid and midface region markedly.

[Suggesting the Significance of Pericardial Fat Pad in Bronchial Stump Fistula]

Bronchial stump fistula is a post-operative complication with poor outcome after pulmonary lobectomy. In order to prevent this complication, the bronchial stump is covered with pericardial fat tissue in our hospital. The case was 58 year old male who received adjuvant chemotherapy after sigmoidectomy for sigmoid colon cancer. As he developed multiple pulmonary metastases, 48 courses of chemotherapy were performed. The lesions had been localized at the right lower lobe, and neither increase in the size of these lesions nor development of other lesions were observed. Hence, an operation was performed. After right lower lobectomy, the bronchial stump was covered with the pericardial fat tissue. Three months after the operation, he developed pneumothorax, and bubbles were detected inside the fat. The pneumothorax was cured conservatively, and the bubbles disappeared spontaneously after 10 months. It is rare that the patient with bubbles in the covering tissue observed for a long time is cured conservatively, suggesting the significance of the stump pad.

[Purse-string suture of imbrication of SMAS and malar fat pad technique for midface and lower face lift]

OBJECTIVE

To discuss the rhytidectomy technical improvements and clinical efficacy and safety, using the purse-string imbrication suture in midface and lower face lift.

METHODS

The absorbable purse-string suture was used in a pure antigravitational direction for correction of the aging middle and lower parts of the face. The volume of cheeks and jowls was repositioned in a cranial direction with a first, slightly oblique purse-string suture on SMAS. To correct the nasolabial fold, the face-lift was performed by adding a second malar vertical purse-string suture between the paracantbal area and the malar fat pad.

RESULTS

From July 2009 to May 2014,52 patients underwent this technique for facial rejuvenation with obvious effect and high satisfactory rate. There was only two minor complication of hematoma.

CONCLUSIONS

The Purse-string imbrication suture in the rhytidectomy produces a natural face lifting through a better correction of the sagging tissue and restoration of the volume of the face. This is a simple technique with good results, short down-time, and high patient satisfactory rate.

Fronto-temporal branch of facial nerve within the interfascial fat pad: is the interfascial dissection really safe?

BACKGROUND

The study was conducted to clarify the presence or absence of fronto-temporal branches (FTB) of the facial nerve within the interfascial (between the superficial and deep leaflet of the temporalis fascia) fat pad.

METHODS

Eight formalin-fixed cadaveric heads (16 sides) were used in the study. The course of the facial nerve and the FTB was dissected in its individual tissue planes and followed from the stylomastoid foramen to the frontal region.

RESULTS

In the fronto-temporal region, above the zygomatic arch, FTB gives several small twigs running anteriorly in the fat pad above the superficial temporalis fascia and a branch within the temporo-parietal fascia (TPF) to the muscles of the forehead. There were no twigs of the FTB within the interfascial fat pad.

CONCLUSIONS

No branches of the FTB are found in the interfascial (between the superficial and deep leaflet of the temporalis fascia) fat pad. The interfascial dissection can be safely performed without risk of injury to the FTB and potential subsequent frontalis palsy.

Eyelid fat grafting: Indications, operative technique and complications; a systematic review

INTRODUCTION

Many recent studies concerning autologous fat grafting in the eyelids have been published, mostly consisting of case reports and retrospective case series. However, no study on the overall complication or satisfaction rate associated with the various grafting techniques exists. We performed a comprehensive literature review to determine the outcomes and complications of eyelid fat grafting, as well as patient satisfaction.

METHODS

A systematic review of the literature using the PRISMA criteria was conducted. This protocol was registered at the Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews at the National Institute for Health Research.

RESULTS

Sixteen studies, representing 1,159 patients and published between June 2004 and December 2014, were included. Satisfactory results, judged by clinical examination, were observed in all studies. Few postoperative complications were reported.

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrated that the procedures were easy to perform, and achieved satisfactory and sustainable results with few complications in both reconstructive and cosmetic surgery. However, a wide disparity exists in the various fat harvesting, fat purification, and reinjection techniques. Further studies are required to assess the long-term outcomes. Our conclusions should be accepted cautiously due to the small number of articles and the lack of evidence in published studies.

[PECULIARITIES OF ISOLATION AND MOBILIZATION OF ADIPOSE—CUTANEOUS FLAPS OF A NIPPLE—LIKE AREA WHILE PERFORMING LOWER RITIDECTOMY, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT PECULIARITIES OF THE SKIN BIOMECHANICS]

Procedure of lower ritidectomy performance, taking into account analysis of parameters of the adipose/cutaneous flaps stretching and relaxation, was improved. Results of treatment of 30 patients, suffering involution ptosis of facial lower third, were analyzed. In 15 of them lower ritidectomy, using results of biochemical and morphological investigations, was conducted, and 15 were operated on in accordance to routine methods.

[STUDYING OF BIOMECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF SKIN IN THE MASTOID REGION WHILE THE COSMETIC OTOPLASTY PERFORMANCE]

The present methods for a droopy ears correction do not guarantee the optimal cosmetic effect achievement. Optimal borders of deformity in cutaneo-adiposal flap of the mastoid region while cosmetic otoplasty performance were studied. Basing on analysis of biomechanical investigations, there were determined the optimal corners of stretching and direction of the strength vector in cutaneo-adiposal flaps while otoplasty performance, securing conditions for surgical intervention performance with preservation of a natural topographo-anatomical ratios in the head and neck tissues.

Fat-forming solitary fibrous tumor of the kidney: a case report and literature review

Fat-forming solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is a rare soft tissue tumor. Herein, we reported a 30-year-old woman was found to have a solid mass measuring 60×45 mm in the right kidney on an abdominal computed tomography scan. The tumor was well-circumscribed and composed of cellular nodules with the classic SFT admixed with clusters and lobules of mature adipocytes. Immunohistochemistry staining showed that the tumor cells were diffusely and strongly positive for CD34 and Bcl-2, focally and weakly positive for CD99 and EMA. Mature adipocytes were positive for S-100 protein. Ki-67 expression was found in approximately 2% of tumor cells. However, tumor cells were negative for cytokeratin, S-100 protein, HMB-45, Melan-A, SMA, and CD117. We made the pathological diagnosis of fat-forming SFT of the right kidney. The differential diagnosis includes angiomyolipoma, liposarcoma, spindle cell lipoma, sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma, synovial sarcoma, and gastrointestinal stromal tumor. The patient was alive and well without evidence of recurrence or metastasis at 19 months after tumor resection.

Orbital Decompression for the Treatment of Spontaneous Globe Luxations

AIMS

To describe the results of orbital decompression in patients with spontaneous globe luxations and to evaluate predisposing factors for this condition.

METHODS

The clinical records of patients who underwent orbital decompression for the treatment of spontaneous globe luxations between 2010 and 2013 were reviewed. Data collected were age, gender, predisposing factors, preoperative and postoperative exophthalmometry, duration of follow-up, presence of diplopia before and after surgery and intra- and postoperative complications.

RESULTS

Seven patients underwent orbital decompression after spontaneous globe luxation during the study period. Six patients underwent bilateral decompression. Two patients underwent a three-wall decompression, four of them medial and lateral decompression and one patient medial decompression. The predisposing factors for globe luxation were Graves' orbitopathy, malar hypoplasia, high myopia, floppy eyelid syndrome and orbital fat hypertrophy in the context of obesity. After orbital decompression, none of the patients reported new globe luxations. No intraoperative complications were observed. None of the patients developed de novo diplopia.

DISCUSSION

Orbital decompression is an effective method for the prevention of new episodes in patients with spontaneous globe luxations. It has good aesthetic and functional results and addresses the exophthalmos present in most cases.

[BIOMECHANICAL SUBSTANTIATION OF ONE-AXIS DEFORMITY OF ADIPOSE-CUTANEOUS FLAPS OF TEMPORAL AND ZYGOMATIC AREAS WHILE PERFORMANCE OF UPPER RHYTIDOPLASTY]

The urgency of the problem of determining the biomechanical features adipose-cutaneous grafts due to a significant increase in the frequency of performing cosmetic surgery and the lack of a unified concept for such interventions. In 32 women aged 35 to 65 years, which will eliminate the excess soft tissues in the implementation ritidectomy and other surgical interventions, isolated patches of adipose-cutaneous flaps to determine the mechanisms of its plastic deformation. Based on the analysis of biomechanical research targeted the optimal stretching the boundaries of adipose-cutaneous flaps zygomatic--to (0.45 ± 0.021) cm and temporal--by (0.0165 ± 0.002) cm refer to areas that allowed to perform surgery with preservation of natural topographoanatomic relations persons in the performance of the upper ritidectomy.

Posterior Hoffa's fat pad impingement secondary to a thickened infrapatellar plica: a case report and review of the literature

We report a case of posterior hoffitis in a middle-aged woman with no prior history of significant major trauma. Her symptoms of anterior knee pain and limited extension failed conservative measures. Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a significantly thickened infrapatellar plica tethering Hoffa's fat pad in the anterior interval of the knee. Arthroscopic resection of the infrapatellar plica resulted in complete resolution of symptoms within six months following the surgery.

Lumbar disc herniation with contralateral radiculopathy: do we neglect the epidural fat?

Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is the most common cause of radiculopathy, whose pathological entity underlying nerve root compression is usually on the same side as the symptoms. However, LDH causing contralateral radiculopathy are sometimes encountered by pain physicians. There have been tremendous developments in the treatment options for LDH; the situation of LDH causing contralateral radiculopathy is indeed a dilemma for some pain physicians. We will report a case of a patient with a L4-5 disc herniation whose left herniated disc caused radiculopathy on the right side. After a percutaneous lumbar endoscopic discectomy via the side ipsilateral to the symptomatic side, this case obtained a significant symptom remission. The migrated epidural fat is discussed as a cause of associated contralateral neurological deficit. Only via a surgical approach ipsilateral to the herniated side, could there be a clinical improvement postoperatively.

Method for estimation of structural composition of skin layers based on light propagation simulation for liposuction applications

Skin surface irregularity is the most common side effect after liposuction. To reduce this, it is necessary to devise a systematic method to provide structural composition details of skin layers, such as fat thickness and fat boundary tilt angle, for the plastic surgeon. Several commercial portable devices are available to measure skin layer information, working on the principle of a near-infrared technique using the light penetration properties of tissue in optical windows. However, these can only measure general fat thickness and not the structural compositions of skin layers with irregularities. Therefore, our goal in this paper is to propose a method to estimate the structural compositions of skin layers by analyzing and validating the relationship between light distribution and structural composition from simulation data based on specific structural conditions.

Internal and external carotid artery embolism following facial injection of autologous fat

Autologous fat injection is a common aesthetic procedure for soft-tissue augmentation of the face. Although this procedure is generally regarded as safe, several patients have experienced acute visual loss or cerebral infarction after these injections. We describe a case of internal and external carotid artery fat embolism that occurred following injection of autologous fat into the face. It appeared that the injected fat entered a branch of the left external carotid artery and that the embolus likely migrated into the left internal carotid artery and distally into the left ophthalmic artery, left anterior artery, and middle cerebral artery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 5:

[Combined resection of preseptal fat and partial retro-orbicularis oculus fat: a method for refractory upper eyelid heaviness correction]

OBJECTIVE To investigate an operative method of combined resection of preseptal fat: and partial retro-orbicularis oculus fat (ROOF) for correction of upper eyelid heaviness, and evaluate the efficacy and safety of the method.

METHODS

Preseptal fat lies widely under the orbicularis oculi in the upper eyelid, and retro-orbicularis oculus fat (ROOF) lies in the lateral supraorbital area. Combined resection of preseptal fat and partial ROOF was performed in patients selected by examination. The efficacy and safety were evaluated by follow-up study.

RESULTS

From May 2011 to July 2013, 38 selected patients received the treatment with 3 months to 28 months follow up. The heaviness of upper eyelid improved in all cases. One patient developed postoperative hematoma, and another patient had a transient numbness over the lateral upper brow region. 37 patients were satisfied with the result.

CONCLUSIONS

Combined resection of preseptal fat and partial ROOF was effective in reducing the heaviness of upper eyelid, without major complications. The operative method should be an important adjunct for selected patients undergoing blepharoplasty.

Abdominoplasty-derived dermal-fat graft augmentation gluteoplasty

BACKGROUND

Plastic surgeons are exploring novel techniques for augmentation gluteoplasty as the demand for this procedure increases annually in the United States.

OBJECTIVES

The authors retrospectively reviewed a series of lower abdominal dermal-fat graft augmentation gluteoplasties to validate the procedure.

METHODS

Nine consecutive patients underwent abdominoplasty or torsoplasty in which 2 oval dermal-fat grafts were excised, de-epithelialized, and then implanted into subfascial gluteal pockets for augmentation. All operations were independently conducted by 1 of 2 surgeons at facilities in Maryland and New Jersey.

RESULTS

The mean age of the 9 female patients was 46 years. The mean dermal-graft size was 188 cm(2), and the mean graft weight was 288 g. One graft became infected and required excision 39 days after the procedure. There were no other complications. All surviving grafts provided a substantial increase in posterior projection and long-lasting gluteal volume.

CONCLUSIONS

Dermal-fat graft augmentation gluteoplasty provides a voluminous, natural-feeling, and durable aesthetic result. The procedure should be considered a viable option for patients undergoing abdominoplasty or torsoplasty, especially as more experience is gained.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

4.

Toward microendoscopic electrical impedance tomography for intraoperative surgical margin assessment

No clinical protocols are routinely used to intraoperatively assess surgical margin status during prostate surgery. Instead, margins are evaluated through pathological assessment of the prostate following radical prostatectomy, when it is too late to provide additional surgical intervention. An intraoperative device potentially capable of assessing surgical margin status based on the electrical property contrast between benign and malignant prostate tissue has been developed. Specifically, a microendoscopic electrical impedance tomography (EIT) probe has been constructed to sense and image, at near millimeter resolution, the conductivity contrast within heterogeneous biological tissues with the goal of providing surgeons with real-time assessment of margin pathologies. This device consists of a ring of eight 0.6-mm diameter electrodes embedded in a 5-mm diameter probe tip to enable access through a 12-mm laparoscopic port. Experiments were performed to evaluate the volume of tissue sensed by the probe. The probe was also tested with inclusions in gelatin, as well as on a sample of porcine tissue with clearly defined regions of adipose and muscle. The probe's area of sensitivity consists of a circular area of 9.1 mm(2) and the maximum depth of sensitivity is approximately 1.5 mm. The probe is able to distinguish between high contrast muscle and adipose tissue on a sub-mm scale (∼500 μm). These preliminary results suggest that EIT is possible in a probe designed to fit within a 12-mm laparoscopic access port.

Medical devices; general and plastic surgery devices; classification of the powered surgical instrument for improvement in the appearance of cellulite. Final order

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is classifying the powered surgical instrument for improvement in the appearance of cellulite into class II (special controls). The Agency is classifying the device into class II (special controls) in order to provide a reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness of the device.

[Clinico-morphological substantiation of feasibility of angiosomic adipose-cutaneous flaps from temporal and parietal regions application]

Actuality of the problem, consisting of restoration of defects and deformity zones on head and neck, is caused by great quantity of patients, surgical treatment of which constitute important medico-social problem. The flaps, raised from temporal and parietal regions, are considered perspective for replacement of defects and the deformity zones on head and neck. But, for their correct isolation and mobilization it is necessary to know the topographoanatomical peculiarities of superficial temporal artery, localization of which differs, depending on the head form. The methods of isolation and mobilization of angiosomic preauricular, postauricular and fascial temporal-parietal flaps were optimized in the clinic, basing on analysis of results of the investigations performed and computeric modeling of the superficial temporal artery branches.

Efficacy of transconjunctival excision of orbital fat prolapse: a long-term follow-up study

PURPOSE

To describe the long-term efficacy of transconjunctival excision of subconjunctival orbital fat prolapse.

METHODS

Retrospective study of consecutive cases of orbital fat prolapse treated with transconjunctival resection between December 2002 and December 2011.

RESULTS

Thirty-two eyes of 23 patients (19 males and four females) were included. The lesion was unilateral in 14 and bilateral in nine cases. It was located superotemporally in a majority of cases. Excision was performed by opening the conjunctiva and excising the prolapsing orbital fat. The conjunctival wound was closed with 1-2 interrupted sutures. With an average follow-up of 29 months (range 4-108), a recurrence was seen in three cases. The average time to recurrence was 46 months (range 40-52 months).

CONCLUSION

Transconjunctival excision is a simple, safe and effective primary surgical procedure to treat subconjunctival fat prolapse. In our series, the recurrence rate was 9%, but no additional surgery was required. As the average time to recurrence was longer than our average follow-up, more patients may develop a recurrence in future.

[Reconstruction finger web with dorsal two wing-shaped flap for the treatment of congenital syndactyly]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the clinical effect of using dorsal two wing-shaped flap to reconstruct finger web for treatment of congenital syndactyly.

METHODS

This technique has been used in 19 children with congenital syndactyly. At the dorsum, a flap with V-shaped tip and two wing-shaped pedicle were designed and was just sewed up with an anchor-shaped incision at the palm. The web was primarily reconstructed without skin graft at base of fingers. Distal end of fingers were separated by using serrated flap and were closed after removal of fatty tissue. At some cases with tight skin connection. The defect area at lateral and distal end of fingers was closed by small pieces of skin graft.

RESULTS

All the webs were reconstructed primarily without skin graft at the base of fingers. 7 cases with tight skin connection had small pieces of skin graft at lateral and distal end of fingers. Primary healing was achieved in all cases. After 1 to 6 months of follow-up, both the appearance and function were satisfactory without conspicuous scar. The reconstructed finger webs were in normal depth and width.

CONCLUSIONS

Primary web space can be achieved by dorsal two wing-shaped flap without skin graft at base of fingers. It is one of the best choices for treatment of congenital syndactyly.

T2 relaxometry of the infrapatellar fat pad after arthroscopic surgery

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the T2 relaxation values of the infrapatellar fat pad (IFP) after arthroscopic surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study was approved by the institutional review board; all individuals signed informed consent. We performed MRI in 16 knees from 8 subjects. Prior to imaging, each subject had unilateral arthroscopic knee surgery and an asymptomatic non-operated contralateral knee. We used a 10-echo multiple-TE fast-spin echo pulse sequence for creation of T2 relaxation time maps. Two musculoskeletal radiologists independently placed regions of interest in the IFP, suprapatellar subcutaneous and deep intermuscular adipose tissue. Qualitative assessments were performed to assess fibrotic changes affecting patellar retinaculum and IFP. Statistical analyses of T2 values determined differences between groups, correlation with time after surgery, and cut-off values to differentiate groups.

RESULTS

The average time between arthroscopy and imaging was 3.5 ± 0.4 years. IFP of knees with prior surgery had significantly shorter mean T2 values (133 ± 14 ms) compared with control knees (147 ± 8 ms, P = 0.03). There was no significant difference between operated and control knees regarding T2 values of suprapatellar subcutaneous (P = 0.3) or deep intermuscular adipose tissue (P = 0.2). There was no correlation between IFP T2 values and time after surgery (P > 0.2). IFP T2 values ≤ 139 ms had 75 % sensitivity and 88 % specificity in identifying prior arthroscopy.

CONCLUSION

Shortening of T2 relaxation values is present in IFP chronically after arthroscopic surgery and may be an indicator of adipose tissue fibrosis.